Class 321s on West Anglia

[Mordac]

Today's Railways 182 reports Anglia is taking 10 321s from Great Northern, rather than the six initially mooted. These will be units 321404, 321405-410, 321418-420, and they're to cover for the Renatus program taking units out of service.

Great Northern is keeping the three remaining units for a bit to cover for 365s undergoing maintenance, but the same piece reports Scotrail is after them to run as four car units (not three-cars like the 320/3s).

 

[Wivenswold]

Hmmm, it was reported that 402 has come across to GA already. I wonder if something changed?

 

[Mordac]

Hmmm, it was reported that 402 has come across to GA already. I wonder if something changed?

Think that might actually be a typo on their part, as they report 402 as coming across too, in their updates to the P5 books...

 

[AlanFry1]

It would be nice to see the 321's go to the Lea Valley Lines to try and sort the overcrowding until the new 710's are avaliable

 

[NSE]

Yes because they famously cart fresh air around on the GEML

 

[scott118]

There was talk recently before the franchise announcement of 321's moving west, but as stated correctly previously, they don't feature droplight windows and so cannot be used for look back DOO along the valley and stations without monitors. They would have to put in mirrors or cameras everywhere

Wasn't the bins also removed from the Stansted's, due to the fact, that they don't have nose end doors, and were deemed unacceptable, due to the fire risk/evacuation procedure, through the single bore at Tye Green?

 

[MrPIC]

I believe there is a restriction for non corridor stock through the Stansted tunnel yes, 315's could only work singularly through there, and there's been talk about the GN 317's needing modding as their nose doors are welded shut apparently. I'm not overly sure however as the entire length of the tunnel there is a walkway/platform on the down side with lights and phones at regular intervals.
If any 321's do head over to West Anglia, which I doubt, they will almost certainly not be seen on the Southbury and Chingford Routes, maybe on Cambridge or Hertford but again, I doubt it. The 317/7/8's are not suited at all for inner suburban work and the 321's are the same if not worse accelerating.

 

[AS43]

I believe there is a restriction for non corridor stock through the Stansted tunnel yes, 315's could only work singularly through there, and there's been talk about the GN 317's needing modding as their nose doors are welded shut apparently. I'm not overly sure however as the entire length of the tunnel there is a walkway/platform on the down side with lights and phones at regular intervals.
If any 321's do head over to West Anglia, which I doubt, they will almost certainly not be seen on the Southbury and Chingford Routes, maybe on Cambridge or Hertford but again, I doubt it. The 317/7/8's are not suited at all for inner suburban work and the 321's are the same if not worse accelerating.

I have heard about the GN 317 modding issue too, but the existing GA 317s have been running around in multiple with the connecting nose doors closed for well over a year, so not sure if it's *that* much of an issue...

 

[JBuchananGB]

I thought I saw a 321 in a livery resembling First Capital Connect last Friday evening on 1K16 at Billericay. Could that have been possible?

 

[D365]

I thought I saw a 321 in a livery resembling First Capital Connect last Friday evening on 1K16 at Billericay. Could that have been possible?

That would be one of the ex-GN Class 321s, I don't imagine that they will be relivered immediately.

 

[MrPIC]

I have heard about the GN 317 modding issue too, but the existing GA 317s have been running around in multiple with the connecting nose doors closed for well over a year, so not sure if it's *that* much of an issue...

Yes but the doors can be opened if required, whereas the GN ones are welded shut...
And it's rare these days that an 8 or 12 317 will be going in the airport.

 

[SprinterMan]

That would be one of the ex-GN Class 321s, I don't imagine that they will be relivered immediately.

I wonder if they will be relivered at all. If I was AGA, I would just vinyl the doors white and put a white stripe on it, then it would look like a 360.

Adam

 

[Wivenswold]

Plus having them in different colours increases visual impact. "Look, we've got extra trains for you, they're the purple ones".

 

[JBuchananGB]

Excellent photo by ash39 of ex-GN 321 alongside AGA 321 at Liverpool Street a few days ago.

https://flic.kr/p/Qt7Nkw

 

[AC47461]

For what it's worth, I've seen 402, 406, 407, 408, 410, 418, 419 and 420 so far.
I thought I saw 401 too, but it was dark and the numbers on the carriage ends are smaller than the AGA ones (and grubbier). They've all been de-branded but at least one retains the old First Group 'barbie' patterning on the lower halves of the carriages.

 

[Wivenswold]

Excellent photo by ash39 of ex-GN 321 alongside AGA 321 at Liverpool Street a few days ago.

https://flic.kr/p/Qt7Nkw

Amazing to think that none of the 100 or so AGA 321s will be seen at Liverpool Street in 4 years. They've been a big part of the GE since I started using it in 1991.

 

[bramling]

Amazing to think that none of the 100 or so AGA 321s will be seen at Liverpool Street in 4 years. They've been a big part of the GE since I started using it in 1991.

I wouldn't bet my pension on that. Many other fleet renewals have ended up with too few units. I would not be at all surprised to find a rump fleet of 321s remain, especially with the Renatus units available.

 

[Tom C]

I thought I saw 401 too, but it was dark and the numbers on the carriage ends are smaller than the AGA ones (and grubbier). They've all been de-branded but at least one retains the old First Group 'barbie' patterning on the lower halves of the carriages.

401 and 404 were the last two at GN which were withdrawn at the weekend.

403 is also still at Hornsey but hasn't moved since November so may need some serious work.

 

[AC47461]

Ah so it definitely wasn't 401 I saw then ??????
419 is on the front of the train I'm on now and it looks like the coach ends have finally been reached by the carraige washer....

 

[F Great Eastern]

The white surrounds on those LED displays look terrible why not use black?